Stripper for cane harvesters and the like



June 9, 1925. x 4 v 1,541,231

G. D. LUCIE STRIPPER FOR CANE HARVESTERS AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 12 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A TTOR/VEYS lNI/ENTUR A TTOHNEYS (3. D. LUCE STRIPPER FOR CANE HARVESTERS AND THE LIKE June 9, 1925.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ill) Patented June 9, 1925.

entree STATES PATENT oF-Filot,

L F WATEBT-OW wlsoon m, A EGNDE T0 CE C N HAB' EST CORPGRAEIQN, OF NEVJ YORK,

STRIEPER FOR CANE original application filed May To (17] whom it may (50710677t! isconsin, here invented certain new and il i i-111i"EOVQIHSIHS in Strippers for C3116 westers end the like, of which the follows t specification. this invention relates to iniprove'n'ients in upper-mils or liar-vesting; sugar cane end the like. and portieiilzirl to the means for strip cone and preparing it for the mill the green tops of the cone are reovcd and the leaves are stripped from the pe, comparatively stiff portion oi the cane irom which the sugar obtained. In aeci'iri'hince with my invention in its preferred oi-in the (one is conveyed past strippii-i-g; means. while in it substantially upright p0 sition, and the leaves are stripped from the cane without injury thereto. Preferably the ane is topped heIore it. reaches the strip ping means but this is not essen nl as the topping may be done {it any t me. The stripping mean-s embodying iny invention, which may he employed in connection w'it'l various types of harvesters, is simple in construction eeonon-iioei to manufacture and eminent and durable. in use. i For the purpose of illustrating: the intention, I have shown it it ipl'ied to ii her.- 'k iiel' of the term disclosed in in loo-pendapplication, Serial No. 2596,39, 'tilei'l hi 1y 1%, l9l9, of which the present opinion.- tion is a division.

in the accompanying drawings forming oi this specification, and in which I shown one preferred embodiment of invention as illustrative of the principle thereof and the best mode now lnio-wn to me for performing the 521 1118,

F are l is a View partly in side elevation U longitudinal section and somewhzrt d i erannnatie in character, s wing i1 heri'e'ster of the type referred to having the preferred form of the invention zi polied and "port v in tr Ye ling it or elm-in '7. its the U is pro;

n. A oonrons'rlon on E E.

HARVESTERS 12, 1519, Serial No. 296,539. Divided and this application filed July 13,

123-29. Serial No. 398,605.

Referring to the dreWi-ngs the harvester has frame 1 mounted on. the 93161131521."

tractor treads 2 and is pror led with i metor 2-, for propelling the apps etns endd; mg; the various lllQOliMl'lSIhS thereof. it the rent of the machine are pick-up chains :1; rlnch gather in the cane end hold 1t i the Vol of is cut close to or belontlexihle spring finger ground by the rotary disk cutters 5 which are shown in their raised or inoperatire positions. Yhen the cane has been severed it is sehaed bet een spring pressed con-Jo chains (3' which hold the cane firmly nd eo i ey it upwardly and rozii'WalIlly tl Ton the machine. i s the cone is thus conveyed, it is tilted into a rearward-1y i ed position by the butts of the one engzig mg the forwand end 01" e trove 11g belt or chain. '1, the ripper run of whf tievels forwardly and ilo-vmwerdly. This belt or chain serfwes to detach the dirt which is likely to QCllQQl'Q to the butts oi the cene and removes the dirt to pizei'en t. it from eccnmnlatiing in the 111 21- chine. As the cone is conveyed further through the machine the butts pass out of :genient Xinithtlie belt or chain 7 and einen-t with the belt. or chain 8, the upper ruiof which travels upwardly and reanniznxlly {in the direction of 1110Gnlfillt0f the cane.v Elie belt or chi 2h p xel; erzihly trzuie'ls at ii speed slis n er then that 0% the @(JilTi-GLYOL' chains 6, is provided at intervals with raised l'ligl-its 8 whieh engage the hut-ts of the cone to prevent the cane from slim) (-lowiimga-ri l y while pessing through the machine.

the cone is more or less restored to 'a'erticsl position from the remwerdly inclined 'positii'in into which it was tilted by the lUU Lil

suitable devices such as the rotary topping knives 9. The apparatus thus'far mentioned is more particularly described in the aforesaid application.

After the cane has been topped, it is carried by the conveyor chains 6 and the belt or chain 8 between the rapidly revolving stripping brushes, the chain or belt 8 serving to cause the cane to assume a more upright position and the flights 8 preventing the cane from slipping during the stripping process. The stripping brushes may be of any suitable construction but are preferably of sub stantially the form shown in Figures 2 to 5. As here illustrated, each of the brushes comprises a broad substantially flat casing 10 formed of sheet metal and mounted on a shaft 11 the portion of which within the cas ing is preferably of square cross section so that the casing may be firmly riveted thereto and caused to positively rotate with the shaft. The casing is formed with a plurality of notches 12 along each edge and extending longitudinally inside of each edge is a rod 13. The flexible fingers or bristles 14 of the brush are formed of spring wire each wire being coiled between its ends into a short helical coil 15 through which the rod 13 is adapted to be passed, thus securing the bristles to the casing. The inner part 16 of the wire is received between the side walls of the casing and thus maintains the outer part of the bristle in an outwardly projecting position. The end of the portion 16 is bent at right angles thereto as indicated at 17, the extreme tip being again bent over as indicated at 18, this last named bent portion be ing adapted to engage the casing wall and, owing to its shape, preventing the casing from being engaged by a sharp end of the wire which would tend to cut through the same. The coil 15 acts as a spring and permits the wire bristle to yield freely thereby providing great durability. Durability and resiliency are also promoted by the use of a long arm 16 within the casing which engages the casing only at its inner end and may thus yield to assist in taking up the initial shocks when the tips of the wires strike the canes, and also the recoil which occurs when the tips of the wires pass the canes after having been deflected by engagement therewith. The flat hollow construction of the brush casing is valuable as providing for the reception of the bristles in the manner described, and the flat shape is also importantbecause of its fan action when rapidly revolved. By reason of this action itthrows or blows the leaves and trash stripped from the case away from the machine and thus not only clears itself from the trash but tends to prevent the trash from falling in or near the machine where it may clog the same or get in the way of the operator. The brushes are positively rotated by power from the motor, a speedof rotation which l. have found satisfactory in practice being in the neighborhood of S00 revolutions per minute. The brush shafts 11 are mounted in suitable bearings in the machine and are preferably disposed substantially at right angles to the conveyor drive in vertical planes at each side thereof, so that they occupy a forwardly and upwardly ll clined position. substantially vertical or somewhat rearwardly inclined position of the cane as held by the conveyor chains, the brushes act to strip the cane diagonally downward which removes the leaves therefrom most effectively. The brushes preferably rotate in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 2 so that the movement of the stripping fingers during the stripping operation is in the opposite direction to that of the travel of the cane.

In order to prevent the leaves or trash from wrapping around the brush shafts or getting into the driving gearing each brush is mounted iinn'iediately above a brush table 19, the bottom of the brush casing rotating over this table with only a slight clearance. In this way the trash is not able to get under the brush casing or to come in contact with the shaft. .As the spring fingers sometimes break, pieces of the rear ends thereof may fall down inside of the casing, and in order to prevent such pieces becoming jammed between the edges of the casing and the table, notches 20 are preferably formed in the back of each wing of the casing to permit any such fragments to be thrown out. The brushes are preferably partly enclosed between the front shields 21 and rear shields 22 which protect the operator from the revolving brushes and also cause the trash to be thrown out laterally through the open spaces between the shields so as to prevent any of the trashbeing thrown where it will be in the way or where it may get into any other part of the machine.

The topped and stripped cane when released rrcm the conveyor chains may be disposed of in any suitable manner. As shown in T* .E Y niguie 1 the cane ialls on a traveling apron 23 which carries it to the rear and drops it into a hopper 2%. Any detached leaves or the like are preferably removed from the case before it is deposited in the hopper by suitable means such as a blower 25 having a broad flat nozzle 25 arranged to direct a strong current of air upon the cane as it falls from the apron. The cane-is removed from the hopper in any suitable manner as for example by opening the door 26 thereof at will, as described in the aforesaid application.

V hile I have illustrated and described in detail one preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not Owing to this position and to the V tin wish to be limited to the precise construction described but that intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principles may be employed. It is also to be understood that the invention may be used with other forms o1 apparatus than the particular harvester construction shown.

Having thus described 'my invention, I claim:

1. In a cane strip-per of the character described, stripping brush comprising a .body havin wire lingers attached thereto, the wires being formed into coiled springs and being pivoted adjacent tothe surface of the body, the inner ends of said lingers being free to move through an angle within said body.

2. In a cane stripper or". the character described, a stripping brush comprisi ig a body havingprojectinq' fingers connected thereto by spring coils pivoted adjacent the surface 01 the body with the inner'ends of said lingers tree to move through an angle within the said body.

3. In acane stripper of the character de scribed, a stripping brush comprising a body, wire lingers projecting theretrom formed into spring coils pivoted adjacent to thesnrtace or the body with the inner ends oi the said fingers tree to move through an angle within the body, and rods carried by the surface of the body and extending through the coils for securing the fingers to the body.

4. In a cane stripper ot the character described, a s ripping brush comprising a body, wire fingers formed into spring coils between their outer and inner ends, and rods carried by the body and extending throngh said coils, the inner ends of the wires extending inside the body beyond said rod being free to more about the rod as a pivot. p

5. In a cane stripper of the character described, a stripping brush comprising a hollow body having openings therein, wire fingers formed into spring coils between their outer and inner ends, said'coils fitting in said openings, and rods within the body extending through said coils.

(3. In a machine ot the characterdescribed,

a rotary stripping brush COD'IDl'iSlHg a fiat shaped body of a length exceeding its width or lll'llClUlBSS having spring fingers projectin from the edges thereot'.

'4'. In a machine of the character described, a stripping brush comprising a hollow sheet metal body of a length exceeding its width or thickness of flat shape having rods extending longitudinally along its er ges, and stripping elements mounted on said rods.

S. In a machine of the character described,

a stripping brush comprising a hollow slit metal body of a length exceeding its scribed, a

stripping members carried width or thickness of flat shape, having rods extending longitudinally along its edges, and flexible wire. fingers or bristles projecting from said edges, said wires being coiled about said ro'dsrand the inner ends of the wires extending into the interior of said body.

'9'. In a machine oi the character destripping brush comprising a hollow sheet metal body oi fiat shape having rods extending longitudinally along its edges, and flexible wire fingers projecting from said edges, said wires being coiled about said rods and the inner ends of the wires extending into the interior oi? said body, the tips of said inwardly extending portions being bent over to form abutments tor engagement with the inner walls of the body.

10. In av machine 01"- the character described, a stripping brush comprising a retatable shaft and a sheet metal body of tlat sh Q enclosing and attached to said shaft, Sfitl'fl body being notched along its edges, rods int-united on the inside otthe body edges and extending longitudinally of said edges, and

projecting through said notches.

'11 In a machine of the character described, a stripping brush comprising a rotatable shatt and a sheet metal body '01 fiat shape enclosing and attached to said shaft, said body being notched along its edges, rods mounted on the inside of the body edges and extending longitudinally of said edges, and spring wires projecting outwardly from the edges of the body,.said wires being coiled between their ends around said rods and the inner ends Of the wires extending a. considerable distance inside of the body.

12. A-sugarcane stripping brush comprising of a length exceeding its width or thickness having wire stripping fingers carried thereby, the inner ends of the wires extending into the brush body and being formed with bent portions.

' 13. A c-a ne strip-ping brush having a hollow sheet metal body of flat shape provided with outwardly projecting stripping lingers.

A. A i ,ger or bristle for a cane stripping brush, formed of wire and coiled into a spring between its outer andinner ends, one end oi said finger being bent at right angles to the said finger and then bent upward substantially parallel to the axis ot the coil between the outer and inner ends.

A lingeror bristle for a cane stripping brush, termed wire rand coiled into a spring between its outer and inner ends, the

inner end of the wire being benttwice to form a transverse bearing portion.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for gripping the cane a-ntl'conveying it through the by said rods and a flat-shaped hollow sheet metal body machine, traveling means for supporting the butts of the cane, and means for stripping the cane, said means comprising stripping fingers, and means for operating said fingers in planes substantially parallel to the path of the said traveling means.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for gripping the cane and conveying it through the iachine, traveling means for supporting the butts of the cane, means for preventing the butts of the cane from slipping, and means for stripping the cane.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for gripping the cane and conveying it through the machine, a traveling endless member for engaging the butts of the cane, said memher being provided With flights to prevent the cane from slipping. and means for stripping the cane.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination of traveling endless chains tor gripping the cane and conveying it through the machine, a traveling endless member for engaging the butts of the cane, and means for stripping the cane,v

said means comprising stripping fingers, and means for operating said fingers in planes substantially parallel to the path of the said traveling means.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of traveling endless chains for gripping the cane and conveying it through the machine, a traveling endless member for engaging the butts of the cane, said endlessmember traveling in the same direction as said endless chains, and means for stripping the cane, said means comprising stripping fingers, and means for operating said fingers in planes substantially parallel to the path of the said traveling means.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of traveling endless chains for gripping the cane and conveying it through the machine, a. traveling endless member for engaging the butts of the cane, said endless member traveling in the same direction as said endless chains and at a higher rate of speed, and means for stripping the cane.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for conveying the cane through the machine in a standing position, and rotatable stripping brushes 'having flat-shaped bodies, said brushes being pivoted for rotation about their longitudinal axes and one of said brushes being mounted at each side of the pathot travel or" the cane.

23. In a machine of the character described. the combination of rearwardly and upwardly inclined conveyor chains for conveying the cane through the machine in a standing position, and rotatable stripping brushes having fiat-shaped bodies mounted at each side of the path of travel of the cane, the axes of the brushes being forwardly and upwardly inclined.

2-1:. In a machine of the character de scribed the combination. of a rotary stripper arranged to create a draft in the rotation, and a table above which the stripper is mounted, the end of the stripper rotating close to the surface of the table.

25. In a machine of the character described, a rotary stripper having a flatshaped body and a table beneath the strip per, the end of the stripper body rotating close to the surface of the table.

26. In a machine of the character decribed the combination of conveyor chains for carrying the cane through the machine in a standing position, rotary strippers .iounted on each .side of the chains, said strippers being shaped to create draft in the r rotation. and tables beneath the strippers, the lower ends of the strippers rotating close to the surfaces of the tables.

27. In a machine of the character described the combination of conveyor chains for carrying the cane through the machine in a standing position, rotary strippers mounted on each side of the chains, tables beneath the strippers, the lower ends of the strippers rotating close to the surfaces of the tables, and stripper guards extending upnurrdly'ifrom the tables adjacent to the strippers.

28. In. a machine of the character described the combination of conveyor chains tor carrying the cane through the machine in a standing position, rotary strippers mounted on each side of the chains, tables beneath the strippers, the lower ends of the strippers rotating close to the surfaces of the tables, and stripper guards extending upwardly from the tables adjacent to the strippers, said stripper guards being located at the front and rear of the strippers and having openings between them "for the dis charge of trash.

2!). In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination with a rotary stripping brush comprising a hollow sheet metal body having spring fingers projecting there from, of a brush table mounted closely beneath said body, said body having a clearance notch in its lower edge adjacent to said table.

30. In a machine of the character described the combination of means for topping and stripping the cane, and separate means for separating the loose trash fzom the cane after it has been topped and stripped.

31. In a machine of the character described the combination of topping and stripping devices, means for conveying the cans past the topping and stripping devices, conveying means for separating the loose and means for separating loose trash from trash from the cane. I the cane after it is released by said con- 33. In a machine of the class described Yeying means. the combination of topping and stripping 5 32. In a machine of the character dedevices, means for conveying the cane to an scribed the combination of topping and elevated position from which the cane falls stripping devices, means for conveying the when discharged by the conveying means ane past the topping and stripping devices, and means for directing a current of air and means for directing a current of air upon the falling cane. 10 upon the cane after it is released by the GEORGE D. LUCE. 

